The Robot Cat From the Future! Doraemon Vol.1 Manga Review.

One of the well-loved works of Fujiko F. Fujio tandem, Doraemon is about a story of cat coming from the future that is helping Nobita, an idiot 4^th grader with his life with his gadgets coming from his pocket.

The first episode that aired in Philippines back then is exactly the first episode of the series but didn't introduce the origins of our favorite robocat. That episode never explained why that cat arrived in Nobita’s time, until I bought the Filipino translated manga last December. To those who want a copy, go to the nearest Booksale outlet here in the Philippines and look for it. It cost Php 60-65 pesos per volume. I am planning to buy volume 2 next week.

Since I read the first volume, I think I would like to share three chapters of the manga that is relevant to the plot. The rest of the chapters are classic Doraemon fare.

The manga started with Nobita sleeping during laying his head on his room at the start of the new year, until he heard a strange noise telling him all the misfortunes that will happen to him during the day, looking around, he thinks that its just his imagination, until Doraemon pops up from his desk and introducing himself. After Doraemon spotted food, h e left and Nobita started to think that it is just an imagination… until his great grandkid from the future, Sewashi appeared along with Doraemon. Sewashi explained that in the future, great misfortune will happen to him and Doraemon is there to help him. To be exact, he will be married to Giant’s (Damulag to those used with the Filipino dub) sister, and he will have a debt that can’t be paid in his entire lifetime.

At first, Nobita did not believe and started throwing things at the two, later on the said misfortunes happen to Nobita and later were convinced with Sewashi, and the rest, is history.

The next chapter is simply about Nobita trying to escape a car accident… and ended up with a car accident anyway thanks to a toy car thrown at his head! The other relevant chapter is about how his parents ended up together, it all because of Nobita and Doraemon after all!

On to the review, one thing that I liked about the manga is that humor is still intact even though it is translated in Filipino. The artwork as always, is still the classic Doraemon we all love, except that he is getting thinner per chapter (Note: In the first chapter, both his head AND his body are at the same size, it is better describe as two soccer balls glued together). Since it is the first time Doraemon is helping Nobita, at first, he is reluctant to help Nobita in ever problem he had faced. Now I know why Nobita is very, very lazy in the anime!

To the specifics, Nobita is the same Nobita we love, an idiot, lazy and always bullied by Suneo and Giant, idiot, because he was not able to get what his great grandkid is speaking. To be exact, when he discovered that Sewashi is his grandkid, he replied, “How come I become a grandfather if I am still a kid.” Idiot. Bullied, I think you know what I am talking about.

Doraemon, is not properly developed in this first volume, he was only introduced here as a robot cat from the future that will help Nobita in everything. End of description.

Sewashi, even though he appeared for about 3-7 pages in the volume, his character is properly established, and he is best described as the grandkid from the future that is willing to help his grandfather to give him a better life. He even revealed that in his childhood, he never had a toy because of his great grandfather’s never ending debts. Poor kid.

So far, this volume pretty much gave me a good time and best recommended to old and new fans of Doraemon. It is a fun tale, and Doraemon’s gadgets are worth a drool to techies.

Nerd Herd! My reading list for the past 3 weeks.

If you find the title weird, not my problem. Like what the title of this post suggest, this post is all about my reading list for the past 3 weeks. Withing those weeks, boredome consumed my spirit and I want to exorcise myself from it, thus reading is the answer. With no further adieu, here it is:

1. Going Solo

by Roald Dahl

Comment/s: First, this book is about Dahl's adventures as a World War II pilot. If you don't have a grandparent to ask about his/her expieriences during the war, or you live in Asia and you are interested in World War II events that happened in Europe, this book is for you. The problem is, if you are not in the mood for adventure, you might have chances in not finishing the book. I myself stopped at one chapter that is almost 4 chapters near the end of the book.

2. Otaku Zine Issues 37 &  38

Comment/s: Since I am an anime fan, I decided to try reading this mag, and boy, it pure anime goodness inside. Gah! Can't wait for issue 39!

3. K-Zone's Guide to Surviving A Bummer Summer

Comment/s: Ther only thing that I like in this book is the comics especially the Bakemono High Summer Special (Chuck's story is freaking funny!) and the Did You Know Trivia. All I can say is, I prefer the other special book issues of the mag.

4. Yu Yu Hakusho Vol. 1
by Yoshihiro Togashi

Comment/s: Arigatou gosaiiiimasu! Like the last lines of the opening theme of the anime, I feel thankful buying this volume half the price AND reading the chapters not included in the anime (In the anime adaptaion of the series, only Chapters 1-3 and 7 are part of the anime). Boy, I feel I am back in the 90's while reading it.

5. GateKeepers Vol. 1
by Hiroshi Yamaguchi (Writer) and Keiji Gotoh (Illustrator)

Comment/s: Asumo egaono tameni! The theme song of the show played in my head when I saw it half the price in Booksale. Being a fan of the show (My username in forums is the name of the lead character of the manga), I was excited reading it when I arrive home. After reading it, all I can say is... wah! Cliffhanger! I want more GK! Unlike the anime version, the manga version is shorter in terms of character introduction (In the manga, the entire AEGIS Far East staff is introduce after Shun beat the Invader), but the story, Reiji Kageyama's awesome evilness (insert evil laugh) and the chicks, give readers a great treat.

6. Matilda
by Roald Dahl

Comment/s: Another Dahl book in my reading list! The story is all about Matilda, a genius... yet her parents think she's a nitwitt and a troublemaker, which is the exact opposite of who she is. While reading the book, I was entertained with Matilda's wittyness and her powers... no wonder they made it into a film! Matilda is a story that will charm readers everywhere. To those parents who have read the book, probably this thought would pop-up in their minds, I wish I adopted Matilda.

7. A Series of Unfortunate Events Book 1: The Bad Beginning
by Lemony Snicket

Comment/s: After reading book 6 (The bookstore sold it half the price! And it's school edition papaerback!), I want more Baudelaire orphan action. To better understand the series, I decided to read the first book. After two days of absorbing all the mishaps, again, I. Want. More.

8. ABNKKBSNPLAko? (To those who don't understand it, here's the expanded title: Aba, Nakakabasa Na Pala Ako?)

by Bob Ong

Comment/s: The title literally means, "Wow, I know how to read". This book tells us about the author's expieriences in studying. From his years in Elementary till his arrival to vocational school and his teaching in high school. To sum it up, even the book is short (1oo+ pages), in every page, you'll learn life's biggest lessons... in a funny and entertaining way.

9. Doraemon Vols. 5 &  6

by Fujiko F. Fujio

Comment/s: (Plays Song of Doraemon in my head) being the fan of the show, I decided to buy to volumes of the manga in Booksale. Once I opened the book, I was surprised that the book is in Filipino. For the first time, I red a Filipino translated manga! The humor of the show is still there, and Nobita, as always is a klutz. He is useless without Doraemon. Sadly, in the last chapter of Volume 6, Doraemon left Nobita. Another cliffhanger.

10. K-Zone Philippines June 2009 Issue
Comment/s: Another mediocre issue. The Transformers feature is the only thing that interested me.